Operators of race committee boats may have to help retrieve a person from the water, and that person may be unresponsive. The club needs to give thought to how their race committee operators do this.

Whilst the term ‘man overboard’ is somewhat anachronistic, hearing it cried out will invariably illicit an immediate response from any sailor or boater who will go into high alert to spot the person in the water and see if assistance is needed. That’s just what we do.

But what we do after that might require some thought and practice. Race committee vessels vary. Some are high-sided past commercial vessels, some re-purposed recreational boats, some are tinnies, some are member’s yachts, and some are RIBs. Of those, there may be a stern duckboard, lifelines, side gates. Adding to this is the reality that most on-water volunteers and race officials are ageing and do not possess the strength and fitness they may have once had.

Retrieving an unresponsive person from the water may prove to be difficult if the club hasn’t considered the possibility in its risk management plans. But by giving it some thought, its far more likely that a person can be retrieved from the water because the race committee vessel has the right equipment, and its operators know what to do.

Things to consider include:

• Avoid the risk of propellor strike when approaching the person by having a prop-guard or having the engine in neutral or off once beside the person.
• Have a recovery line and flotation devices that can be thrown to the person.
• Prepare a system for getting them onboard by using a ladder, net, lifting strap from a halyard or a davit, whatever will work for that race committee boat.
• A cold or injured person will need assistance.
• Do not go into the water unless absolutely necessary, and even then, wear flotation and be attached to the race committee boat by a line.

Importantly, train people and practice. Accepting that your club’s race committee might be faced with this one day and periodically practicing the drill for each type of race committee boat will help operators deal with a person in the water and needing emergency assistance. Australian Sailing’s Powerboat Handling and Safety Boat Operator courses are highly recommended. These courses cover low and high-speed recovery of a person from the water.

There is an excellent video resource available from Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) which can be viewed here. Whilst this video deals with a person in the water being recovered by keelboat under sail, the message is directly applicable. “Practice the procedure with your own boat”.

Risk management resources are here.
Click here to read about the Powerboat program.

By Glen Stanaway